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A plate of smoked gouda mac and cheese with a glass of read wine and thyme

Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese

This smoked gouda mac and cheese recipe is full of sharp, nutty flavour with salt and smoke coming from the gouda and the bacon. It's like if your normal mac and cheese recipe got dressed up for dinner.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8 people
Calories 853 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb elbow macaroni, or cavatappi
  • 8 oz pancetta, cubed
  • ½ C flour
  • 4 C whole milk
  • 12 oz smoked gouda, grated
  • 12 oz sharp old cheddar, grated
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 7 slices day old white bread cubed
  • 3 tablespoon melted butter
  • 3 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F.
  • In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook your pasta according to package directions.
  • In the meantime, heat a large saucepan over medium high heat. Add the pancetta, cooking until crisp and the fat has been rendered out. Remove the pancetta using a slotted spoon, leaving the fat behind.
  • Whisk in the flour, cooking for two minutes, stirring constantly.
  • Add the milk, about a cup full at a time, letting the mixture thicken and the milk heat as it gets added. Continue whisking frequently. Do not let the mixture come to a boil.
  • Add both cheese to the milk mixture in batches, about a cup at a time, whisking and letting it melt before adding the next batch.
  • Add the cayenne, salt and pepper. Taste the sauce for seasoning and adjust as necessary.
  • In a large mixing bowl (or the large pot you cooked the pasta in) combine the sauce and the pasta. Pour into a large 9x13" pan lined with parchment paper.
  • Make the breadcrumbs: combine the cubed bread, butter and thyme in a large mixing bowl. Mix with your hands to ensure the butter is evenly distributed. Layer the crumbs over the mac and cheese.
  • Bake in the oven for 30-45 minutes, until the breadcrumbs are golden brown and the cheese sauce is bubbling. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cupsCalories: 853kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 39gFat: 47gSaturated Fat: 26gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 1147mgPotassium: 491mgFiber: 3gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 1182IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 826mgIron: 3mg
Keyword gouda mac and cheese, gouda mac and cheese baked, gouda mac and cheese recipe, smoked gouda mac and cheese
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